TSG Hoffenheim vs. Borussia Dortmund preview: European hopefuls to recover from tough start
| Hoffenheim are looking to pick up three points for the first time this season as they face Borussia Dortmund. | Lars Baron/Getty Images |
Hoffenheim
Bringing European hopes into the season, Hoffenheim got off to a tough start last time out, with Thijs Dallinga and Said El Mala inspiring FC Köln to a 3-2 win on opening weekend.
And as Christian Ilzer's side look to put their first three points on the board, they could not have been handed a much tougher test, with Borussia Dortmund making the trip to Sinsheim on Saturday.
Hoffenheim led twice last time out, with Adam Daghim and Ozan Kabak both getting on the scoresheet, but three second-half goals courtesy of the aforementioned Köln duo would see the visitors head back to Kraichgau empty-handed.
In last season's corresponding fixture, Hoffenheim came away with a 2-1 win, with Andrej Kramaric netting a last-minute penalty on home soil - leaving his side on track for Europe.
Welcoming BVB to Baden once again, Ilzer's side will be looking to repeat their antics, and pick up their first win of the campaign.
Team news
It has been a tough start to the season on the team news front, with Ilzer having to do without both Tim Lemperle and Fisnik Asllani last time out.
Lemperle, though, will return this weekend after serving his suspension, while Asllani will have to wait at least one more week as he gets back up to full fitness following his failed move to RB Leipzig.
Alongside Asllani, Alexander Prass will also have to wait for his return, with the upcoming match against Stuttgart potentially one to look out for.
Click here to see our predicted Hoffenheim lineup
Borussia Dortmund
Getting off to a strong start on opening weekend, Borussia Dortmund picked up a 2-0 win against Hamburger SV, thanks to goals from Serhou Guirassy and Giannis Konstantelias.
The latter, though, would be the theme of the aftermath, with the Greek international forced off through injury, with Dortmund revealing that he is set to miss a large portion of the campaign through an ACL injury to his left knee.
Konstantelias arrived from PAOK over the summer, and looked to have struck up a strong partnership with compatriot Konstantinos Karetsas.
Responding to the injury, BVB were able to secure Arsenal youngster Ethan Nwaneri in the final stages of the transfer window, after the Englishman spent a period of time out on loan at Marseille last term.
Alongside this, Die Schwarzgelben sealed their spot in the next round of the DFB-Pokal on deadline day, with a 5-0 win against HEBC Hamburg.
Team news
Alongside the injury to Konstantelias, Italian youngster Samuele Inacio was sent off against HSV, just three minutes after arriving as a substitute.
He will serve his suspension while others continue periods on the sidelines, including Nico Schlotterbeck and Emre Can.
A big boost could come for Schlotterbeck in the coming weeks, though, with the defender potentially returning before the end of the month.
